Clinical Research Directory

Age De-escalation Safety Trial of PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine in Burkina Faso

This is a first-in-humans randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, age de-escalation Phase 1 trial of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) late liver stage-arresting replication-competent (LARC) sporozoite (SPZ) malaria vaccine (Sanaria® PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine) administered to healthy, malaria-exposed adults and children by direct venous inoculation (DVI) to determine safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity. The PfSPZ comprising PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine contain a double gene deletion, of the Mei2 and LINUP genes. As a result, they undergo developmental arrest in the late liver stages without releasing merozoites into the blood stream (no blood stage parasites are produced, either asexual or sexual). Because Pf parasites with the LARC phenotype replicate in the liver before disintegrating, they amplify and diversify parasite protein expression and are expected to be a potent immunogen to induce anti-malarial immunity, equaling or exceeding the potency and efficacy of the replication-competent chemo-attenuated Sanaria® PfSPZ-CVac (chloroquine). Because the parasites are intrinsically attenuated, they are also expected to be safe and well tolerated, similar to radiation-attenuated Sanaria® PfSPZ Vaccine and to the single-gene(Mei2)-deleted GA2 parasites (also LARC phenotype) tested at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), which, like PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine, disintegrate after replicating in the liver. PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine thus avoids the safety concerns associated with PfSPZ-CVac, which uses fully infectious, non-attenuated parasites to achieve replication and depends on co-administered chloroquine for attenuation. In summary, the genetically attenuated PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine should combine the best-in-class immunogenic potency and protective efficacy of PfSPZ-CVac (chloroquine) with the excellent safety and tolerability of intrinsically attenuated PfSPZ Vaccine and GA2 vaccine. This trial is designed to test the hypotheses that: 1. The vaccine is safe and well tolerated in each age group. 2. The true rate of breakthrough blood stage infection (or other concerning adverse events) is less than about 5%, with an 95% confidence level (this will be the level of confidence that there are no breakthroughs if no breakthroughs occur in the 50 participants receiving PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine).

Assessing the Feasibility of Combining Dihydroartemisinin Piperaquine and Primaquine for Malaria Mass Drug Administration in High Endemic Communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Previous malaria control studies in Ghana have shown that community-wide approaches can substantially reduce malaria infections. In a mass testing, treatment and tracking (MTTT) study, more than 75% of people in target communities were reached, leading to a 24% reduction in asymptomatic malaria after one year. However, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) can miss very low-level infections, meaning some infected individuals are not treated and can continue to spread malaria. A pilot malaria mass drug administration (MDA) study using artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in the Eastern Region of Ghana showed a very large reduction (over 95%) in parasite carriage after repeated rounds of treatment. Despite this success, malaria infections later fluctuated, possibly because some parasites remained in mosquitoes and because mature gametocytes-the parasite stage responsible for transmission-are not fully eliminated by standard malaria medicines. To better interrupt malaria transmission, this study will use MDA with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAP) combined with a single low dose of primaquine (PQ), which targets these transmission stages. The intervention will be given to the whole community every two months (six times per year) and compared with the current standard malaria control measures. The study will examine whether this approach reduces malaria parasite carriage, whether malaria returns after treatment stops, and whether repeated MDA affects malaria drug resistance markers in the population. This two-year implementation research will generate practical evidence to guide national malaria policy in Ghana and inform the potential use of MDA in other malaria-endemic African countries.

Comparison of Two Strategies for Administering the R21-Matrix M Vaccine in a Context of Seasonal Malaria Transmission in Chad

This is a two-arm, cluster-randomised, phase IV trial conducted in Chad to assess the protective efficacy and impact in real-life conditions of a new strategy for administering the R21/MM malaria vaccine, synchronized within a seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, among children living in areas of high seasonal malaria transmission. In this study, a cluster is defined as the catchment area of a primary care health centre. In Chad, each catchment area is known as a 'zone of responsibility' (French: Zone de Responsibilité' \[ZR\]). Twenty-six (26) of the total 27 ZRs in the districts of Moïssala and Dembo will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a 4-dose (3 primary doses + 1 booster) R21/MM schedule either (1) integrated into the routine EPI vaccination program (the "Routine" control arm), or (2) synchronized with an annual seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaign (the "Synchronized" intervention arm). Malaria incidence: R21/MM effectiveness will be assessed using the incidence of biologically confirmed clinical malaria (trial primary endpoint). The incidence of clinical malaria will be determined through enhanced surveillance of malaria cases in health centres and hospitals over a 17-month period (August 2025 - December 2026). Coverage surveys: Cross-sectional surveys (cluster sampling) will be carried out to measure R21/MM vaccine coverage, SMC coverage, coverage of other malaria prevention measures, and coverage of other EPI vaccines. Nested case-control study: A sub-sample of children admitted to Moïssala District Hospital with severe clinical malaria will be offered the opportunity to participate in a nested case-control study designed to estimate the individual protective efficacy of R21/MM against severe malaria.

IGHID 12334 - After the Flood: Optimal Strategies to Prevent Malaria Epidemics Caused by Severe Flooding

The purpose of this study is to test different ways to prevent malaria infections after flooding. To accomplish this, the investigators will assign villages to different control strategies and measure the number of malaria infections in each of the villages. Residents of all villages will receive new bed nets, but in some villages, residents will be provided with a monthly medication Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) (a drug that is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and regulatory authorities and widely used in Africa for Malaria treatment. This drug is not approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because it is not used in the US,) to prevent malaria, while others will also receive a treatment that can be placed into pools of water around the home to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there. The investigators will monitor the participant and their household members for mosquitoes and malaria over a period of 12 months after the flooding This study is important because, similar approaches could be used to prevent malaria after floods, which is occurring more frequently.

Experimental Malaria Infection of Healthy Malaria-Naive Adults by Mosquito Bite With the Genetically Modified Plasmodium Falciparum NF54/iGP3 GAP

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the genetically-modified malaria parasite NF54/iGP3 will safely infect humans with malaria. The investigators will also determine how the parasite grows in humans, and the effect of anti-malarial drugs. Researchers will use a controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) model to infect participants with malaria to observe the development of the disease, collect malaria-infected blood, and then treat the participants to cure the malaria infection. The collected malaria-infected blood will be used to create a frozen stock of malaria parasites for use in future research.

Diagnostic Access to Self-Care and Health Services in Low and Middle Income Countries (DASH) - Phase II

Our primary goal is to determine if on-demand, home-based rapid testing, or rapid testing done by a community health worker (CHW) results in people testing for diseases more frequently and getting care more quickly. These two testing approaches will be compared to how individuals would normally test if they were concerned about certain diseases. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Do either of the testing approaches result in more people testing themselves for certain diseases when needed? * Does self-testing at home or testing done by a community health worker increase the number of individuals receiving test results and getting care/treatment more quickly? * Does at-home screening for high blood pressure and diabetes result in lower blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c levels (an indicator for diabetes)?